Will young players be in a whole new ballgame 5 years from now?
Photo Courtesy: Andrew Gillen
Last night, President Barack Obama gave his State of the Union speech, outlining both the current and upcoming standing of the United States. On a different platform, Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated gave us Baseball's State of the Union. In it, Verducci outlined several ideas that would change many aspects of America's game, ranging from an added pitching clock to a neutral World Series Opening Game. Are all of his proposed moves good for the game, though?
Before continuing this article, I highly suggest reading the lead up in Verducci's piece. Quotes from Red Sox President Larry Lucchino and Agent Scott Boras give you an idea of how open to change people around baseball are. With the addition of expanded instant replay and the ban of home plate collisions, the league is already headed in the right direction. Commissioner Bud Selig has already announced his retirement at the end of his contract, though some still believe an extension is possible. However, if Selig does step down, it means a new leader of the game and a new voice to possibly propel the game into an entirely new era. I'm just hitting the speck of snow atop the iceberg, so, again, highly consider checking out the first half of Verducci's article.
Now for the part everyone wants to read. Tom outlined ten total ideas for Major League Baseball to adopt and and adapt in today's game. For fun, I'll break them down into the five that will improve the sport, and the five that are just too questionable to move forward with.
The Questionable
5. Bracket-Style Home Run Derby
Instead of the current system, where rounds of players compete for the highest home run total, 16 players would square off in a March Madness-esque battle. For me, getting eight quality players to participate in the Derby is difficult enough, let alone convincing 16. The event is already popular enough, a unique event that draws a large audience. At this point, I see no reason to mess with it.
4. Limit Timeouts
Verducci argues that there is already a limit on manager and pitching coach trips to the mound, and so the catcher's availability should be held back as well. For me, Tom has already laid out the argument against this. Pitchers and catchers are both players in the game, and for me, should be allowed to interact as much as they prefer. The limit needs to be placed on coach-player interaction, which is already in place. I have no issue with catchers leaving the plate, allowing for as much strategy as possible in the game.
3. Bonus Batter
This is the one "bad" proposal that I could see gaining traction with a few adjustment. Verducci suggests that managers get a single opportunity to allow one batter, in the lineup or not, to make one at bat at any point in the game. Obviously, this allows for much more intense late-inning situations, but puts the fielding team at a big disadvantage. Mitch Williams had a suggestion this morning on MLB Network's Hot Stove, where the opposing team could make the same move with a pitcher. This then becomes a major mess, and only holds the game back. I could see the move being made with proper research, but not in its current state.
2. Limit Pitching Changes
What is the point of a bullpen? If you hold back a manager to the point where he cannot make the proper pitching changes, the bullpen loses its value. In its current state, where the pitcher must face at least one batter, the rule is just fine. A move like this would be head-scratching.
1. Batter Starts With 1-1 Count
Now, to Verducci's credit, he even acknowledges this move as much too radical for the game. This, by far, stands, to me, as the most outlandish of the proposed updates to the game. The list of harmful trickle-downs from it would severely hinder the game of baseball. Batters would be much too handicapped. Pitchers stand to look three times more dominant. The idea is just inconceivable.
The Good
5. Pitch Clock
We probably wouldn't see this move any time soon, but it could be a game saver. According to the article, the time between pitches with the bases empty is 19 seconds, with 27 seconds being the time with runners on. One of the least enforced rules in the playbook states that there should be about 12 seconds between pitches. A 12 second pitch clock between pitches may be too harsh, but 15 could be reasonable. Guys like Cliff Lee and Clayton Kershaw would see no change in their game with this rule, but more time-consuming pitchers like Jonathan Papelbon and Daisuke Matsuzaka will have to make adjustments.
4. Best-of-5 LCS
Citing a World Series exclusive 7-game playoff, Verducci argues that reducing the League Championship Series to just five games makes the Fall Classic more special. I love the idea, as it also adds a more intense feeling to the playoffs, forcing teams to make risky moves to move forward. This also helps speed up the playoff process that some feel is already too drawn out.
3. Fund College Baseball
College basketball and football are, by far, much more popular than both baseball and hockey. Verducci notes the lack of funding from Major League Baseball as one of the reasons why. Only 12 scholarships are currently allowed per school for baseball, forcing kids to more often choose the higher-paying basketball and football route. We could see a major influx of youth in baseball should the league use the "…billions of dollars set aside…" toward growing the game.
2. Neutral World Series Opener
While I can certainly see this move getting some heat, I could see it becoming a huge success. The idea is credited to Scott Boras and would also need some improvement. Here's the proposed idea. Let's say Citizens Bank Park is chosen s this year's recipient of the World Series. On a Friday night, the sport's major awards would be announced, and perhaps an event or two are played. The following Saturday and Sunday nights play host to the first two World Series Games in Philadelphia. Then, the Series would move to a 2-2-1 format. The issues, though, are rather large. It stands a chance that one team sweeps the Series before the other team ever gets a home game. You may also run into an issue where one team gets five home games instead of four. Perhaps a 2-2-2 format with one opening game could be used.
1. The Summer Game
I love this. I LOVE THIS. The setting is perfect. In July, when baseball is the only major sport being plate, the league takes two days off following the All-Star Game. Verducci suggests a "Summer Game" the Thursday after the All-Star festivities. Two teams would play in a one-game series in a special location, with the foothills of Mt. Rushmore and the plaza in Washington D.C. being billed as possible locations. Location and attendance would be the two major factors to consider, but if pulled off correctly, this could be HUGE for the sport.
Any change that comes to the game of baseball would come under heavy scrutiny, but would be necessary to drive the game forward. I'm open to a lot of moves, and so should you. The one move I did not see proposed was the "Every club must have a Sabermetric Team" move. That's absolutely necessary.
